Against the Odds
Against the Odds by Marjolijn Hof, published by Allen & Unwin in 2011, is a juvenile fiction novel that explores the complexities of family dynamics through the eyes of a young girl named Kiki. Living with her parents and an old dog, Kiki’s life is generally happy, but her father’s frequent humanitarian missions to dangerous locations create a sense of unease. Despite her attempts to persuade him to stay home, Kiki grapples with the reality of her father’s dangerous choices and the implications they have on her family.
In this 124-page narrative, readers will find Kiki’s journey as she confronts her fears and the moral dilemmas that arise when her father goes missing. The story delves into themes of family and the bonds between parents and children, presenting Kiki’s imaginative strategies to cope with her worries. As her mother becomes increasingly distraught, Kiki is faced with the weight of her decisions and the potential consequences of her actions. This edition offers a thoughtful examination of serious issues, all while maintaining a humorous and relatable tone.
Official synopsis Publisher
Kiki lives with her mother, father, and repulsive old dog. Life is good except that her father, a doctor, feels compelled to constantly embark on humanitarian missions to dangerous places. No matter how persuasive her arguments, Kiki can’t convince him to stay home. Her mother explains the odds — there’s very little chance her father will die because, after all, how many of her friends’ fathers have died? Unconvinced, Kiki dreams up ways to bolster those odds. If it’s unlikely that a girl would lose her father, wouldn’t it be twice as unlikely that she’d lose a father and a pet? When her father actually does go missing, and her mother becomes increasingly distraught, Kiki feels she really must do something — but can she live with the consequences of committing such a terrible, irrevocable act? This perceptive and compelling novel deals with serious moral issues in a funny, deeply human way.
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